She seemed suddenly almost unable to contain an overpowering gaiety. She clapped her hands with childish glee. Raoul stared at her in amazement.

“But⁠ ⁠… but,” she continued, holding out her two hands to Raoul, or rather giving them to him, as though she had suddenly resolved to make him a present of them, “but if we can not be married, we can⁠ ⁠… we can be engaged! Nobody will know but ourselves, Raoul. There have been plenty of secret marriages: why not a secret engagement?⁠ ⁠… We are engaged, dear, for a month! In a month, you will go away, and I can be happy at the thought of that month all my life long!”

She was enchanted with her inspiration. Then she became serious again.

“This,” she said, “ is a happiness that will harm no one .”

Raoul jumped at the idea. He bowed to Christine and said: